The great writer E.L. Doctorow died recently. He was one of America’s great fiction writers. Recently I heard an interview with him that was recorded in 2009 after he published Homer and Langley. In that interview he shared some tips with writers that I thought worth repeating. “I don’t write with an outline.” #writingtips Click […]
Tips for Coming Up with a Title for Your Book
During a number of interviews, I’ve been asked how I came up with the title of The Clock Strikes Midnight. As I work on my new book, I wonder about this question. Actually I wonder about the bigger question. How do authors come up with their titles #writingtips #titles Click To Tweet I can share […]
7 Deadly Sins That Writers Commit
Writers often do things that drive readers mad. They tend to forget what readers want #writingtips Click To Tweet They tend to write from the vantage point of their computers without thinking about the very human person savoring every word. Let’s look at what I call the 7 Deadly Sins that Writers Commit: Deadly sin […]
Writing Tips–What Tense Do You Write in?
As writers, one of the decisions we all must make is what tense to use #writingtips Click To Tweet Past or present. Most writer guides suggest that new writers use the past tense. Why? Writing in the past is the best way to tell a story #writingtips Click To Tweet Most stories do not happen […]
Tips to Aspiring Writers–Video Clip
In this video Joan shares some advice to aspiring writers. She says that if you really want to write and you enjoy the process of writing, then do it, no matter what. If you have to force yourself to write, if you look for excuses not to write, then maybe you should explore another career. […]
What The Girl on the Train Teaches Us about Characterization
Having just finished The Girl on the Train, I wanted to share some tips about characterization. Paula Hawkins did an excellent job of creating three distinct characters, each with a voice of her own. Let’s see what we can learn from this best-selling author” @paulahwrites Click To Tweet Hawkins writes with an alternating point of […]
Chatting on Twitter about Books and More #Scribechat
Last week I hosted my first Twitter Chat. It was a new experience for me. Several people joined the chat and shared their views and questions. In a fast and furious hour, we talked about The Clock Strikes Midnight–the theme, title, characters and the road to publication. We also talked about writing habits. I learned […]
Tips for Aspiring Writers
In this video Joan talks about what it takes to be a writer #amwriting Click To Tweet She encourages aspiring writers to go for it if writing is something they enjoy. If they have to force themselves to write, then they may want to find another career. Writers must love the writing part because the […]
Tips for Meeting New Year’s Writing Goals
As the new year nears, my guess is you’re thinking about goals. You’re setting resolutions for the next 365 days. We all somehow believe that those days are endless, and we will lose those extra pounds, exercise as much as we need, give gratitude for what we have, remember to visit our shut-in friends and […]
6 Tips from a Confessed Pantser
I recently interviewed a writer who told me in no uncertain terms that she was not a pantser. I asked, “What is that?” She explained that a pantser was a writer who wrote by the seat of his/her pants. She explained that pantsers do not use outlines or other tools to organize their plots or […]
